Perfusionist License Requirements
All 50 States, Verified

Perfusionist licensing costs vary significantly by state, ranging from $50 to $975, with an average of $281. Pennsylvania has the lowest fees while Nevada has the highest. Many states don't require state licensure and only require national ABCP certification, which has separate fees paid directly to the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion.

All perfusionists must pass the N/A administered by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP). This national certification exam covers cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial protection, pharmacology, hemodynamics, coagulation management, ECMO, and mechanical circulatory support. No states require additional state-specific exams beyond the ABCP certification.

Continuing education requirements for perfusionists vary by state, ranging from 15 to 36 hours, with an average of 29 hours per renewal cycle. 33 states have no state CE requirements and rely on ABCP's national recertification requirements, which mandate 45 CEUs per 3-year reporting period with a minimum of 15 Category I CEUs.

0 states offer reciprocity or endorsement for perfusionist licenses from other states. However, many states don't require state licensure at all and instead recognize ABCP certification, which is nationally portable. For states that do require licensing, the transfer process typically requires verification of your current license, ABCP certification, background checks, and payment of application fees.

Perfusionists must complete a N/A from a CAAHEP-accredited perfusion education program. All programs require completion of at least 75 clinical perfusion cases during training as part of ABCP certification eligibility requirements. New York uniquely requires a Master's degree, while most other states accept Bachelor's degree completion from approved programs.

The timeline for perfusionist licensing varies depending on whether the state requires formal licensure or only ABCP certification. For states requiring licensure, processing typically takes 4-8 weeks after submitting a complete application with required documentation. The ABCP certification exam, required by all practicing perfusionists, can be scheduled after completing an approved perfusion program and meeting clinical case requirements.

No, not all states require formal perfusionist licensure. Only 51 states currently require state-specific perfusionist licenses, while 0 states rely on national ABCP certification without additional state licensing requirements. However, all perfusionists must obtain ABCP certification to practice professionally, and individual healthcare facilities may have their own credentialing requirements regardless of state licensing laws.